Frode Bolhuis Embraces Color and Intuition in Polymer Clay Figurative Sculptures

Dutch sculptor Frode Bolhuis has shifted from creating monumental bronze works to smaller, colorful polymer clay figures. He discovered polymer clay about ten years ago, which allowed him to incorporate vibrant hues into his practice. Bolhuis believes color is central to his work, noting that Dutch culture has an extensive vocabulary for colors. His sculptures explore human emotion through body language, with each piece connected in a conceptual "mind map." He works intuitively without models, allowing figures to emerge during the sculpting process. Bolhuis lives and works in a community of nine houses with attached studios in Almere, Southern Flevoland, where he grew up. He also teaches one day a week at Design Academy Eindhoven, emphasizing the importance of starting without overthinking. His artistic philosophy values the initial creative stage and the mystery of the process over predetermined outcomes.